Box Score NORTH MANCHESTER, Ind. – Visiting Anderson University pulled ahead late for a hard-fought 93-89 victory in men's basketball action on Friday night in Stauffer-Wolfe Arena.
The contest remained close for the entire 40 minutes on Friday night. Neither side led by more than a possession for the first 13 minutes of action in the opening half. The Ravens hit the Spartans with a quick 13-5 flurry to build a 39-30 lead at the 3:17 mark of the first half, however, the Black & Gold closed to within a basket, 42-40, following a Cortiz Buckner (Lafayette, Ind./Lafayette Harrison) layup in transition with 9 seconds left in the half.
Anderson's Jordan Gadis knocked down a buzzer-beating three-pointer as time expired to give the Ravens a slight 45-40 edge at the break.
Manchester started the second half with a 10-0 run of its own to grab a 50-45 lead. Freshman Jackson Jannsen (Carmel, Ind./Carmel) scored the first eight points during the surge – hitting a pair of threes and finishing a backdoor layup. Following a defensive stop, Cortiz Buckner found CJ Hampton in transition for an easy layup to complete the run.
Both squads remained close for the remainder of the contest with neither side leading by more than six points.
Trailing by two with just over two minutes left in regulation, Anderson came up with a key stop defensively and then scored on its ensuing possession to even the score at the 87.
Cortiz Buckner converted one of two foul shot attempts on MU's next possession to put the Spartans back up by one, 88-87, with 1:44 left on the clock.
Anderson's Ronny Williams was able to draw a foul on the Raven's next trip down the floor. Williams knocked down both free throws to put the Ravens back on top, 89-88.
On the next possession, a turnover by the Spartans led to a fast-break layup for AU's Jordan Gadis.
With 35 seconds remaining, Manchester's CJ Hampton made one of two attempts at the charity stripe to keep the Spartans within a basket at 91-89.
After a turnover by the Ravens, Manchester's game-tying attempt in the paint fell just short. AU recovered the ensuing rebound and converted a pair of free throws to seal the game.
Four Spartans scored in double figures on Friday evening. Cortiz Buckner led MU with 19 points and 10 assists. Jackson Jannsen contributed 16 points. Both CJ Hampton and Brandon Christlieb (Ashley, Ind./Prairie Heights) scored 14 points. Freshman Hunter Perlich (Fort Wayne, Ind./Churubusco) provided a spark off the Spartan bench. Perlich scored 18 points on the strength of 5-7 shooting from downtown. He also drew a shooting foul and a three-point attempt and made all three free throws.
Ronny Williams' 27 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists led the Ravens on Friday night.
For the game, AU shot 55.2% (32-58) from the floor, while shooting 47.4% (9-19) from beyond the three-point arc. Anderson finished 20-26 (76.9%) at the free throw line.
The Spartans shot 27-57 (47.4%) from the floor. The Black & Gold finished 13-30 (43.3%) from three-point territory and went 22-30 (73.3%) from the charity stripe.
Friday's contest marked the 165th all-time meeting between these two Indiana rivals.
Manchester (2-2) will return to action tomorrow with a road rematch at Anderson (2-1). Game time from O.C. Lewis Gymnasium is scheduled for 1 p.m.
